Hohenmoorer Y3 Monostahl Knife

After nearly two decades of knife-making and work as a cutler, Ulrich Hennicke began designing and producing his own line of hand-forged blades in the town of Asendorf, Germany. Hohenmoorer, or "High Moor," describes the region the knives are produced in. The profile of each Hohenmoorer knife is distinctive, contemporary, and restrained. There is nothing superfluous added without a nod to functionality. The touch of temper color is a fingerprint of the maker, but also serves the purpose of protecting the transition area between blade and tang.

The length and profile of the Y3 Monostahl makes reference to a Japanese vegetable knife - a nakiri - and can be used in similar fashion. It is ideally used to chop a wide assortment of ingredients and vegetables. Despite its profile, it is not a cleaver, and should not be used on hard items like winter squash or bones.

The blade is hand-forged by Ulrich Hennicke and his small team. The Y3's handle shape and polished brass bolster are subtle indications fact it's a modern kitchen tool, and the octagonal (eight-sided) handle is comfortable for both left and right-handed users. The use of smoked oak in the handle makes the knife light in the hand, and gives it a handmade quality. No two are exactly the same.

The Y3 Monostahl blade is forged with a C100Cr6 carbon steel, and the blade will begin to develop a patina immediately - its "working color." This is a natural part of using a carbon knife, something to be celebrated. The gradual staining of the blade personalizes it, and tells the visual story of past meals. Knives made ​​with carbon steel generally maintain an edge longer than stainless steel.

Care: Wipe the knife's blade with a clean cloth or wash it gently after each use, avoiding harsh detergents or scrubbers. Never use in a dish washer. Dry the blade soon after washing. Because the steel has a carbon content, it can rust. The wood handle is durable - that said, we recommend hand washing your knife, drying it, and storing it somewhere it does not come into contact with other objects or utensils. We suggest having the knife professionally sharpened, or using a sharpening stone.

The High Moorer Y3 Monostahl ships in a gift-worthy box made ​​of recycled paper.